Who Knew? Microsoft's Xbox 360 In Short Supply (MSFT)

We're used to hearing
about Nintendo Wii shortages.
But believe it or not, Microsoft isn't meeting demand for its
next-gen console, either, and the shortage could hurt MSFT's
sales.

Microsoft marketing guy Jeff Bell
tells Reuters that the company "misjudged demand" and that
the company is "really running short of product" in the United
States. Bell says the shortage "will have an impact" on
Microsoft's sales, and therefore, could artifically lower overall
industry sales. Research firm NPD Group is expected to release
January videogame sales data tomorrow.

But is the more-than-two-years-old Xbox really out of
stock? We were a bit skeptical, so we called 14 Gamestop
locations around town. Bell was right! Six of the 14 stores we
called said they were sold out, and five others said they only
had one pro version in. Normal inventory is usually two to six
units, and the stores receive shipments daily -- but for now,
Xbox 360s aren't sitting around collecting dust.